[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 252 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 252

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding human rights violations in 
Tibet, the Panchen Lama, and the need for dialogue between the Chinese 
         leadership and the Dalai Lama or his representatives.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 25, 2002

Mr. Wellstone submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding human rights violations in 
Tibet, the Panchen Lama, and the need for dialogue between the Chinese 
         leadership and the Dalai Lama or his representatives.

Whereas Hu Jintao, Vice President of the People's Republic of China and former 
        Party Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region, will visit the United 
        States in April and May of 2002;
Whereas Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was taken from his home by Chinese authorities on 
        May 17, 1995, at the age of 6, shortly after being recognized as the 
        11th incarnation of the Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama;
Whereas the forced disappearance of the Panchen Lama violates fundamental 
        freedoms enshrined in international human rights covenants to which the 
        People's Republic of China is a party, including the Convention on the 
        Rights of the Child;
Whereas the use of religious belief as the primary criteria for repression 
        against Tibetans reflects a continuing pattern of grave human rights 
        violations that have occurred since the invasion of Tibet in 1949-50;
Whereas the State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001 
        states that repressive social and political controls continue to limit 
        the fundamental freedoms of Tibetans and risk undermining Tibet's unique 
        cultural, religious, and linguistic heritage, and that repeated requests 
        for access to the Panchen Lama to confirm his well-being and whereabouts 
        have been denied; and
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China has failed to respond 
        positively to efforts by the Dalai Lama to enter into dialogue based on 
        his proposal for genuine autonomy within the People's Republic of China 
        with a view to safeguarding the distinct identity of Tibet and 
        protecting the human rights of the Tibetan people: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) Vice President Hu Jintao should be made aware of 
        congressional concern for the Panchen Lama and the need to 
        resolve the situation in Tibet through dialogue with the Dalai 
        Lama or his representatives; and
            (2) the Government of the People's Republic of China 
        should--
                    (A) release the Panchen Lama and allow him to 
                pursue his traditional role at Tashi Lhunpo monastery 
                in Tibet; and
                    (B) enter into dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his 
                representatives in order to find a negotiated solution 
                for genuine autonomy that respects the rights of all 
                Tibetans.
                                 <all>